After tense moments at the ISTRAC centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ISRO Chairman K Sivan announced that communication with the Vikram Lander was lost as it was descending. The communication was lost as the lander was descending towards the Moon early on Saturday and was at an altitude of 2.1 km over the moon's South Pole where it was due to land.
The lander was scheduled to make a soft landing on the south pole of the moon between 1.30 am and 2.30 am on September 7. The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will, however, continue to go around the moon in an orbit of 96 km x 125 km and will carry out experiments for one year.
Sivan announced that the space agency's telemetry, tracking and command network is analysing the issue to check the problem.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told ISRO scientists not to lose confidence after communication with the Vikram Lander was lost.
"Whatever you have done till now is no mean feat,” he said. "The nation is proud of you. You all have served the nation and done a great service to science and mankind. Move ahead with lots of courage. I am with you, hope for the best," he added.
This was echoed by many, who said that regardless of what happened, they were proud of ISRO’s scientists and what the country has achieved.
India is proud of our scientists! They’ve given their best and have always made India proud. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2019
Chairman @isro gave updates on Chandrayaan-2. We remain hopeful and will continue working hard on our space programme.
ISRO’s achievement with getting Chandrayaan-2 so far has made every Indian proud.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 6, 2019
India stands with our committed and hard working scientists at @isro.
My best wishes for future endeavours.
Congratulations to the team at #ISRO for their incredible work on the Chandrayaan 2 Moon Mission. Your passion & dedication is an inspiration to every Indian. Your work is not in vain. It has laid the foundation for many more path breaking & ambitious Indian space missions.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 6, 2019
Proud of you, ISRO. The nation stands with you, shoulder to shoulder.
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) September 6, 2019
We are proud of our scientists. They have created history. No need to lose heart. Our scientists have done a great job.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 6, 2019
Jai Hind!
“In life there are ups and downs. Be courageous. I am with you. You well serve the country”, @isro, says @PMOIndia @narendramodi. #Chandrayaan2 #Chandrayaan2theMoon
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) September 6, 2019
Heartiest congratulations to our scientists.....your work and huge efforts make us proud. India salutes you!
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 6, 2019
Regardless of the finale - India has scripted history tonight. We are proud of our scientists at @Isro and of their commitment & hard work.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) September 6, 2019
Tonight marks a new beginning and I am confident we will bounce back. Chin up #TeamISRO! #Chandrayaan2 #VikramLander pic.twitter.com/3FgY86WDQO
Dear @isro scientists, India is proud of you !
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) September 6, 2019
Don't give up!
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
You never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far..
You have done your best for #Chandrayan2 !
Congratulations to ISRO for successfully placing the moon orbiter. The whole nation is confident you will land on the moon & place our flag there very soon.
— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) September 6, 2019
You have inspired millions across the country to dream big, whenever they see the moon. We are proud of you! #Chandrayaan2
Everyone one of us involved in space missions is so heartbroken for @isro right now. We've all had those desperate moments of fear, that second of silence when you just don't know. And sometimes that second stretches, and streches... So, so close. #Chandrayaan2Landing
— Dr. Jessie Christiansen (@aussiastronomer) September 6, 2019
The nation stands by the entire team of @isro as we wait in these tense times. Your hard work and commitment has made our nation proud. Jai Hind.#Chandrayaan2Landing
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2019
There are no failures,only temporary roadblocks to the achievements of our goals. We are proud of every single @isro scientist for what they have been able to achieve till now.
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) September 6, 2019
Nation with you and hope for the best for the future#VikramLander#Chandrayaan2
Maybe communication with lander is yet to establish.#Chandrayaan2 orbiter is doing good and will perform fine for next one year. It will orbit moon, provide data and perform its functions.
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) September 6, 2019
Proud of our scientific community @isro.
We are proud of you team @isro !
— Dr. Satya Pal Singh (@dr_satyapal) September 6, 2019
The nation salutes you for the hardwork you’ve put in.
This is not where the things end but this is surely where new things have started!
We Indians stand firmly with our great scientists & hope for the best for future. #Chandrayaan2
Hard not to be bummed after a second failed lunar landing this year, but each of these teams should feel super accomplished for reaching the Moon at all. Still a great day for space. #Chandrayaan2
— Loren Grush (@lorengrush) September 6, 2019
The real payback of the mission is reinstating faith in our own capability.
— Purvi Srivastava (@purvi_23) September 6, 2019
We, as Nation, would have never ever known what we are really capable of! Now we know. Our basics are sorted. And with sound basics, today or tomorrow, anything can be achieved. Thanks #Chandrayaan2 pic.twitter.com/0x8PE3M9UX
The women and men at @isro have my utmost respect. I salute your spirit, your knowledge, your efforts. We are closer to the moon than ever before!! We witnessed history being made today. Thank you. #Chandrayaan2
— Kritika Kamra (@Kritika_Kamra) September 6, 2019
Thank you Team @isro for inspiring a billion people to look towards outer space and place our faith in the power of science and technology.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 7, 2019
We are proud of our scientists for taking us farther than before. #Chandrayaan2
The launch of Chandrayaan-2 was carried out successfully on July 22 by the GSLV Mk-III from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and had entered the Lunar Transfer Trajectory on August 14. On August 20, Chandrayaan-2 entered the lunar orbit and on September 2, the Vikram Lander separated from Chandrayaan-2 to make its way for the soft landing.